Thomas the Rhymer or True Thomas
is a ballad about the medieval prophet Thomas of Ercildoune. He meets the
Queen of Elfland who takes him away from earth for seven years, putting him
through various rituals which no doubt instil his prophetic powers.

Carl Loewe set this ballad to music as Tom der Reimer
(op. 135a, ca. 1860).

Thomas of Erceldoune, the 13th Century poet, was author of a
long poem describing a visit to Elfland and the supernatural events which took
place there. The poem served as a basis for the 15th century
romace which, in turn, probably provided the raw material for this ballad.

Child published 3 texts.

Learned from print

Steeleye Span released their recording of Thomas the Rhymer
in 1974 in two different versions:
a short one (3.14) with just five verses as a single with the B-Side
The Mooncoin Jig
and a long version (6.44) on the original Chrysalis UK release of their LP
Now We Are Six.
However, most reissues of this record contain the shorter single version
of Thomas the Rhymer
with the exception of the BGO CD reissue. See the notes to
Now We Are Six
for details.

a March 1997 live recording from a British tour was released as bonus
track on Park Records' CD reissue of
Sails of Silver,

and from The Forum, London on September 2, 1995 on their CD
The Journey.

Steeleye Span recorded this song for a second time for their CD
Present to accompany
their December 2002 reunion tour.

Mary Macmaster sang True Thomas
in 1991 on Sileas' cassette
File Under Christmas
and in 1995 on Clan Alba's eponymous and only CD,
Clan Alba.

Ron Taylor sang Thomas the Rhymer
on his and Jeff Gillett's 2006 WildGoose CD
Both Shine As One.
This track was also include in 2007 on the WildGoose anthology
Songs of Witchcraft and Magic.
They commented:

Thomas Rymour apparently lived in Ercildoune in the 13th Century,
although the historicity of the journey described in this song is surely open
to question. Published in
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.
This version was collated from various sources and Anglicised.

Alison McMorland sang Thomas Rhymer
in 2010 on her and Geordie McIntyre's CD
Where Ravens Reel.

Lyrics

Ewan MacColl sings Thomas Rhymer

True Thomas lay on Huntlie bank,
A ferlie he spied wi' his e'e,
And there he saw a lady bright
Come riding down by the Eildon Tree.

Her skirt was o' the grass-green silk,
Her mantle o' the velvet fyne.
At ilka tett o' her horse's mane
Hung fifty siller bells and nine.

True Thomas he pull's aff his cap
And louted low down to his knee:
“All hail, thou mighty Queen o' Heaven!
For thy peer on earth I never did see.”

“O no, o no, Thomas,” she said,
“That name does not belong to me;
I am but the queen of fair Elfland
That am hither come to visit thee.”

“Harp and carp, Thomas,” she said,
“Harp and carp along wi' me.
And if ye dare to kiss my lips,
Sure of your body I will be.”